[Interlude] From the Cliffside to the Imperial Capital

Taro's answer made perfect sense.

I have memories of it myself.

A nun from a poor orphanage still run by the Empire's church taught me how to wield a sword.

Looking back, I wonder how a nun came to know about swords, but regardless, she gave me training.

She was an important teacher.

We were poor, and since there were no girls my age at the orphanage, I had plenty of free time.

I had been swinging my sword constantly.

Fortunately, it seemed I had some talent for it.

There were often bullies from outside who would come to bother us at the orphanage.

It was simple—these were slave traders.

Our sister would always drive them away.

One day, when the sister wasn’t around, the slave traders came.

Normally, everyone at the orphanage would just close the door and wait it out, but I had gotten overconfident.

Thinking I could help the sister, I stood up to them.

The outcome was a decisive victory. I had easily overwhelmed the thugs who had come to cause trouble this time.

But it was likely due to experience—the kidnappers had an ally hiding in the bushes.

I was nearly caught off guard when my sister suddenly returned and stepped in between us, saving me. She was injured, though.

It was my fault.

The kidnappers had originally been targeting children like me, ones who would lose their temper and charge out in frustration.

After that, the Suzuki团长, the bodyguard from Fujiwara Corporation who had come with the sister,

beat the heck out of those guys and saved the day.

Though the sister said she didn't mind, I felt too uncomfortable staying at the orphanage

and had no choice but to leave.

I asked the团长 to let me join the merchant caravan's escort team and left the orphanage quietly.

I didn't tell the sister anything.

It turned out later that the sister had found out I was with the merchant caravan through the captain.

Thanks to Taro, I was reminded of something from the past. But now I clearly understand.

This is exactly what I wanted to say.

Thanks to Taro. I still feel a little regretful, so I gently—but firmly—conveyed my thoughts to him.

Taro’s a smart guy.

He seemed to understand my meaning perfectly.

Finally, I’ve managed to get it across, and I feel much lighter.

Before I knew it, my clothes had dried and the rain had stopped.

Afterward, the path to meet up with Dan sloped upward, requiring a bit of climbing.

Taro kept insisting it was impossible to climb without a safety rope, saying all sorts of nonsense,

but I forced him up anyway.

It was hilarious watching him hesitate and struggle.

I felt incredibly relieved and cheerful.

We entered the Empire.

Apparently, he didn’t plan on staying long this time.

After a few days had passed, with nothing left to do and Taro not around, my feet—seemingly remembering the way—had brought me here, to the orphanage where I once was, without me even realizing it.

Just as I was about to turn back, someone called out to me.

"Oh, who do we have here? Isn't it the troublemaker Noel? What a surprise."

"U-uh, long time no see. Sister. You remembered me, huh?"

It was the sister who had once looked after me. I'd finally been found.

She seemed a little thinner.

"Of course I remember you! Now that I look closely, you were such a mischievous girl back then, yet you've grown into such a lovely young woman. I'm so proud."

I felt a surge of joy and couldn't help but glance down.

But since I'd come out silently, I didn't know what to say.

In the end, I could only manage something harmless and vague.

"Are you well, Sister?"

"Fufu, you've grown a bit larger, but your mind hasn't changed much at all. Come in, tell me about what happened after you left the orphanage."

I entered the orphanage after several years, feeling nostalgic, and looked around.

Nothing has changed.

A few children were staring at me curiously.

It still seems to be running as an orphanage.

I entered the Sister's room at the back. Nothing there has changed either.

I then went on to talk about what happened after I left.

The Sister listened to me in her usual tone, unchanged from before. The strength that had somehow entered my body had slipped away without me noticing.

When I realized it, it was already evening.

My heart was calm, filled with a sense of peace.

As I thought I'd come back again, I stood up and started to leave the room—

"Novel, have you found someone you like? If not, I could introduce you to someone."

"Huh, there's no way I'd need that. And I don't want anyone, anyway."

"Is that so? I was starting to think it was about time, though. Hmm... do you understand why I didn't care when I got hurt back then?"

A renewed strength fills my heart.

"I don't know. Why?"

"Because I can afford to get hurt, for your sake."

"I don't want you to do things like that. I don't want anyone to get hurt."

"That's what family is—being able to care that way. We're family, you know. And it's okay to make more people you can feel that way about."

I looked away. My cheeks might have been relaxing.

"But I left this place."

"Of course you did. You're human. There are good days and bad days. Sometimes you go far, sometimes you come close."

"You don't feel uneasy about that?"

"You just haven't lived enough yet. You just kind of understand it. Besides, I've heard you're doing well."

"You've heard?"

I've heard about it from Captain, you know. I've tried coming here many times.

Seems like there were times when you were wandering around aimlessly.

I'm leaving already!

What a mess. Wandering around alone like this, I must look like a fool.

Come again.

Saying that, the sister waved her hand.

I confronted the team leader back at the dorm, but he skillfully dodged the issue.

Damn it, everyone around me is so smart.

Since that day, I've started visiting the orphanage.

The captain and vice-captain seem busy with their next deal, and the others all have their own schedules—no one's available to train with.

Taro's been quietly researching something or other, and he's also been practicing alone, looking pretty busy.

Something must have changed after they talked things over.

A few days after the order came that the captain would soon be departing from the imperial capital, I saw Taro enter the captain's room with a solemn expression.

I felt uneasy, but the scene was so unusual that I couldn't help but eavesdrop.

"Yes, I plan to leave the group."

Wait, why? What's going on, Taro!?

My heart felt as though it were being squeezed.

Why am I feeling this way? I couldn't think straight, frozen in place.

Before I knew it, the conversation had ended, and Taro had already left.

What should I do? I have to say something.

"You're leaving the group, huh?"

"Yeah, thanks for everything up until now.

I've finally found what I truly want to do. What you all taught me has been a big help."

Why are you answering so calmly!?

"Hmph! Do whatever you want. You're an adventurer, right? Let me see if you can fight."

For some reason, I ended up in a battle.

Damn it, I don't understand any of this. I'm such an idiot.

First, I'll beat Taro down and calm myself.

His magic is powerful, but magic users always have a slow start.

I'll focus on speed and strike quickly to finish him.

The fight began—and ended.

I lost to Taro.

I was careless, but losing is losing.

Damn it, nothing's going right at all. I'm gonna drink so much I forget everything completely.

Normally I never drink, but today I ignored my friend's warnings and drank way too much.

As a result, the next day I had a terrible hangover—and I couldn't remember a thing that happened.

My friend said I missed a great opportunity.

Since I still don't understand what actually happened, I came to see the sister.

I explained the whole situation to the sister.

Then the sister said,

"Really, you don't understand? Isn't it just that you want someone to hear those feelings?"

"I don't know."

I buried my face in the desk, looking away, and said that.

"Then let's try this. Take it as advice from someone older.

For now, stay apart from that person. If your feelings don't change after that, then be honest about them. Okay?"

"....I understand."

The next morning, the leader came up to me with something to say.

I couldn't turn back. Even without moving away, I knew.

Maybe next time, I'll be able to talk properly.